TL;DR
Get your next haul delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
A London tenant says their landlady, who occupies the flat below, complains about conversation, footsteps and washing-machine use between 9pm and 10pm. A housing expert cited in This Is Money says ordinary domestic noise is not generally a legal nuisance, but the tenant should check the tenancy agreement and handle the dispute carefully because a resident-landlord arrangement may affect how the tenancy can be ended.
A London tenant says their landlady, who lives in the flat below, has complained about conversation, footsteps and washing-machine use between 9pm and 10pm. In advice published by This Is Money on October 24, a housing expert said ordinary household noise is generally not a legal nuisance, while warning that the landlord’s residence in the same building may affect the tenant’s legal status and the process for ending the tenancy.
The renter, identified only as L.S. of London, told This Is Money they have rented an upstairs flat in a house for several years with a flatmate. They said the landlady occupies a separate flat downstairs and objects to noise after 9pm, including talking, walking around and running the washing machine. The renter said the complaints have made them nervous about ordinary activities and having friends over.
L.S. said the two households do not share living space and that the renters have a tenancy agreement. The report does not publish the agreement or specify its terms. Chris Macartney, a landlord and tenant expert at law firm Bishop and Sewell, advised the renter to check whether it contains a specific quiet-hours clause before deciding how to respond.
Macartney said ordinary everyday sounds such as talking, footsteps and household appliances are not generally treated as legal nuisance, referring to a previous House of Lords case. He said that, absent a relevant term in the tenancy agreement, using a washing machine or talking between 9pm and 10pm would not in itself mean the renter was doing something wrong. This is expert advice applied to the account described; the article does not report a court ruling about this particular dispute.
Ordinary Noise and Tenant Rights
The dispute illustrates the tension between a tenant’s use of a home and a neighbour’s need for rest, made more immediate when the neighbour is also the landlord. The expert’s distinction is that normal domestic activity is not automatically a nuisance, but the written tenancy terms and the precise circumstances can matter.
There may also be a housing-security issue. Macartney said the landlord’s residence in the same building could mean the renters have a resident-landlord tenancy, rather than an assured tenancy. According to his advice, that status can allow a landlord to end a tenancy with valid notice without giving a reason. He added that, because the renters do not share living space with the landlady, a court order would still be needed to evict them. The report does not establish the renters’ legal status independently; it is an assessment based on the limited details supplied.
Products Worth Considering
Philips Hue Large Smart Light Tube, Black – White and Color Ambiance LED Color-Changing Light – 1 Pack
Sonos Era 100 Wireless Smart Speaker, Black
Samsung 85 M80H Series Mini LED 4K Smart TV (2026)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Tenancy Arrangement Matters
The renter described a house divided into separate flats, with the landlady living downstairs and the tenants occupying the upstairs flat. Macartney said a landlord living in the same building may place the tenancy within the resident-landlord exception, which he said covers converted houses rather than purpose-built blocks of flats. The layout and legal nature of the property therefore matter, as does the tenancy agreement.
The tenant’s account and the legal comments were published as a reader-advice report, not as a judgment or a formal finding about either party’s conduct. The report says the renters have a tenancy agreement and do not share living space with the landlady, but it does not provide the contract, the property’s classification, or a response from the landlady.
“I feel nervous about talking with my flatmate, inviting friends over for dinner or walking around.”
— L.S., the renter, as quoted in the This Is Money report
Contract Terms and Tenancy Status
The available account does not show whether the tenancy agreement contains a quiet-hours clause, what notice provisions apply, or whether the property legally qualifies as a converted house for the resident-landlord rules Macartney described. Those details could affect the advice in practice.
The report also gives only the tenant’s account of the complaints. It does not include the landlady’s explanation, independent evidence about the level or timing of the noise, or any council or court assessment. No formal complaint, eviction notice or legal proceeding is reported.
Written Communication and Mediation
Macartney advised the renter to reply calmly in writing, explaining that they want to be considerate neighbours while saying that ordinary domestic activity before 10pm is reasonable. He suggested practical steps that could reduce sound, such as adding rugs, wearing soft slippers, using an anti-vibration mat or running the washing machine earlier. These were presented as goodwill measures, not as an admission that the tenant had breached an agreement.
If complaints continue, the expert suggested asking about community mediation, which may be available through the local council, and keeping a diary of complaints. He said that if the landlady’s conduct becomes intimidating or appears intended to force the renters out, it could amount to harassment under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. The council’s tenancy relations officer may be able to help; Macartney advised seeking housing-solicitor advice if the situation escalates. The report does not say whether the renter has taken any of these steps.
Key Questions
What noise has the tenant reportedly been asked to reduce?
The renter said the landlady complained about talking, footsteps and running the washing machine between 9pm and 10pm. This is the tenant’s account as reported by This Is Money.
Is ordinary evening noise automatically a legal nuisance?
Not according to the housing expert quoted in the report. Chris Macartney said ordinary sounds of daily life are generally not a legal nuisance, but the tenancy agreement and specific circumstances should be checked.
Could the landlady’s residence affect the tenancy?
Macartney said it may mean the renters have a resident-landlord tenancy, which can have different rules for ending a tenancy. The report does not establish the renters’ legal status; the property type and agreement would need to be examined.
What steps did the expert recommend?
He suggested checking the tenancy agreement, replying calmly in writing, considering sound-reduction measures, keeping a record of complaints and exploring local mediation. If the dispute escalates, he advised contacting a council tenancy relations officer or a housing solicitor.
Source: rss
